Mechanical toy



P. FLATAKIS Aug. 9, 1 932.

MECHANICAL TOY Filed March 25, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet Mr I! M 2% 5 2m N4 N Tm F wm I Eva P. PLATAKIS Aug. 9, 1932.

MECHANICAL TOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 R w M b 6Q W Q w m w m NP 0 I RG w x m I. v Nx I N V P d a 5 h 50/ T & m VWMAAAAAANAIII! \2 Q M; -Ii:

Patented Aug. 9, 1932 PETE-B PLATAKIS, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA MECHANICAL TOY Application filed March 25, 1932. SerialNo. 601,188.

his invention relates to new and useful improvements in mechanical toys and more particularly to such a toy adapted to be operated by a plurality of rollable elements or marbles.

An object of the invention is to provide a mechanical toy comprising a supporting structure having a magazine at one end thereof and a runway supported above said magazine, and a pivoted beam being adapted to receive marbles from said magazine and elevate them to said runway, and the elements discharging from the runway cooperating with gravity to operate said beam.

A further object is to provide a mechanical toy comprising a suitable supporting structure having an inclined magazine supported at one end thereof, and having an upright at its opposite end upon which a suitable in clined runwa is secured at an elevation above said magazine, and a gravity-operated beam being pivotally mounted upon said upright below the runway and provided at its ends with suitable holders, one of which is adapted to receive elements from said. magazine, one

at a time, and the holder at the opposite end of the beam being adapted to receive the elements discharging from the runway, and the pivotal support of said beam being such that when an element is delivered into the holder adjacent to the magazine, and another element is delivered into the holder at the opposite end of the beam from said runway, the beam will become overbalanced, whereby the marble received from the magazine will be elevated and delivered into the receiving end of the runway, just prior to the discharging of the element from the holder at the opposite end of the beam, after which the beam will return by gravity to its normal load-receiving position.

Other objects of the invention reside in the simple and inexpensive construction of the apparatus which is such that it may be dispensed to the public in a knocked down state, whereby it may be packed in a comparatively small carton, and the parts preferably being made of sheet material and provided with suitable means whereby they may be quickly assembled and set up by a child to provide a workable structure; in the particular construction and arrangement of the magazine, the runway, and the oscillatable beam, whereby the marbles or spherical elements are moved from a lower to a higher elevation by the operation of said beam, the latter being oscillated in one direction by the elements or marbles discharging from the runway, and in the opposite direction by gravity; and, in the provision of the pivoted member at the discharge end of the magazine, which is adapted to be operated by the beam to automatically discharge anelement or marble from the magazine into the adjacent holder of said beam.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings, there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 1-1 of Figure 2, showing in full and dotted lines, the swinging movement of the beam, and also indicating by arrows the path traveled by the marbles;

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view showing the means provided at the discharge end of the magazine adapted to be actuated by the beam to discharge an element from the magazine into the adjacent holder of the beam;

Figure t is a detail sectional elevation on the line 4- of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a detail sectional plan view on the line 55 of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a detail sectional elevation on the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

The novel toy featured in this invention comprises a base member 2, desirably rec tangular in form, as shown in Figure 2, and preferably comprising upright walls 33 and 4: l. A suitable post 5, preferably of channel cross section, is secured to one end of the base member 2, by such means as a lug 6,

shown integrally formed with the post and adapted to be received in a suitable slit or slot 7, provided in the adjacent end wall 3 of the base member 2.

An upright 8 is secured to the opposite end of the base member 2, preferably in the inanner shown inFi'gure 6. As here illustrated, the spaced side walls 9 of the upright 8 are provided at their lower ends with suitable extensions or lugs 7, adapted to be received in suitable slits or slots 12 provided in the bottom wall of the base member 2, and bent outwardly and against the bottom wall of the member 2, as shown in Figure 6.. The bottom wall of the member 2 may be provided with suitable recesses 13 adapted to receive the lugs 11 so that the bottom faces of the lugs will be substantially flush with the bottom of the base member 2. V

A suitable reinforcing member 14 has one end secured to the upper portion of the post 5 and its opposite end to the upright 8. This member is shown provided at its ends with suitable lugs 15 adapted to be received in slots 16 provided in the walls of the post 5 and upright 8, as best shown in Figure 5. The lugs 15 are bent around and against the walls of the post and upright to thereby rigidly secure the reinforcing member 14 in position, as shown in Figure 1. Suitable transverse walls 17 may be provided at the ends of the member 14 adapted to abut against the walls of the post 5 and upright 8. r The reinforcing member 14 is preferably of channel crosssection, and its width is such as to fit snugly between the spaced parallel walls of the post 5 and upright 8, as will be noted by reference to Figure 5.

A magazine 18 is secured to an extension 19 provided upon the post 5 and is adapted to retain a plurality of rollable elements such as marbles 21, shown in Figures 1 and The magazine is arranged at an incline so that the marbles will roll towards one end there: of. A suitable end wall 22 is provided at the discharge end of the magazine 18 to prevent tlre marbles from rolling oil. A suitable aperture 23 is provided in the bottom wall of the magazine adjacent to the end wall 22 adapted to receive the end portion 24 of a pivot member 25, mounted upon a suitable pivot'26 secured to the walls of the reinforcing member 14. The opposite end portion 27 of the member 25 is adapted to be engaged by the end portion 28 of a beam 29, supported upon a pivot 31 secured to the upright 8. The beam passes throu h an opening, 32 provided in the intermediate wall of l the upright, as best shown in Figure 1.

Suitable holders 33 and 34 are provided at the ends of the beam 29 adapted to receive the marbles 21, as will subsequently be described. An inclined runway 35 is secured to the upper end of the upright'B, by such means as lugs 36 provided uponthe upper ends of the walls 9-9 of the upright 8, and adapted to be received in slots 37 provided in the bottom wall of the runway 35. The lugs 36 are bent over and against the side walls of the runway 35, as best shown in Figure 4, to thereby firmly secure the runway to the upright 8. V

A suitable weight 38 may be adj'ustably secured to the beam 29 by such means as a screw 39, to control its operation. A pluralit of suitable apertures 41 may be provided in the beam adapted to receive the screw 39.

In the operation of this novel toy, a plurality of marbles or spherical elements are placed in the magazine 18. Because of the inclination of the magazine 18, the marbles will roll to the lower end thereof so that the leading marble will engage the end wall 22, whereby the marbles will be retained in the magazine. A marble is then placed in the holder 33 of the beam, and another one in the runway 35, which latter marble will rail 7 by gravity to the lower end of the runway and discharge into the holder34 provided at the opposite end of the beam 29'. When the marble in the runway 35 drops into the holder 34 of the beam, the latter will be oscillated from the full to the dotted lineposition shown in Figure 1, whereby the end portion 28 of the beam will move out of engagement with the pivoted member 25 and permit said member to return by gravity to its normal position shown in Fi re 3.

As the beam 29 is oscillated from the full to the dotted line position shown in Figure 1, the marble in the holder 33 will be elevated to the receiving end of the runway 35 and willbe discharged thereorito' just. before the marble is discharged from the holder 34 at the opposite end of the beam. When the marble is discharged from the holder 34, the beam will return by gravity to the full line position, shown in Figure 1, whereby it will actuate the pivoted member 35 and cause the end portion 24 thereof to enter the opening 23 in the bottom of the magazine 18, and eject the leading marble therefrom into the holder 33 of the beam. The loading of the holder 33 occurs before the marble in the runway 35 reaches the pocket 34 of the beam. 7 As soon as the marble in therunway is delivered into the pocket 34, the beam will be overbalanced, as herei nbefore described, thereby causing it to oscillate to the dotted line position, indicated in Figure 1, with the result that another marble will be delivered to the runway 35 from the holder 33, and the marble supported in the holder 34 will be discharged therefrom to permit the beam to return to the full line position shown in Figure 1.

It will thus be seen that the toy will con.- tinue; to operate automatically until sill of the marbles in the magazine 18 have been e1- i is vat-ed to the runway 35. The pivots 26 and 31 supporting the member 25 and beam 29, respectively, preferably consists of suitable cotter pins which may readily be secured to their respective supports by spreading the ends thereof in the usual manner. If the marbles used are of a uniform size and weight, it may be possible to dispense with the weight 38, as it is obvious that the beam 29 may be so proportioned as to cause it to operate in the manner above described, with out a weight.

" By making all of the parts of sheet metal, and providing the various parts with suitable interlocking lugs and slots, the entire appa ratus may be quickly set up or assembled by an inexperienced person or child, thereby adding to the attractiveness of the toy.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a mechanical toy, a magazine adapted to retain rollable elements, a runway disposed above said magazine, and a pivoted beam adapted to receive elements from said magazine and deliver them to said runway, said beam being operated by elements discharging from said runway.

2. In a mechanical toy, an inclined magazine adapted to retain rollable elements, an inclined runway disposed above said magazine, and a pivoted beam adapted to be operated to receive elements from said magazine and deliver them to said runway, the elements discharging from said runway causing operation of said beam.

3. In a mechanical toy, a supporting structure, an inclined magazine adapted to retain rollable elements, an inclined runway supported upon said supporting structure at an elevation above said magazine, a pivoted beam having means at one end adapted to receive elements from said magazine and cleliver them to said runway, and means whereby the elements discharging from said runway will cause actuation of said beam.

4. In a mechanical toy, a supporting structure, an inclined magazine adapted to retain rollable elements or spheres, an elevated runway, a gravity operated beam pivotally mounted upon said supporting structure and having means at one end adapted to receive elements from said magazine one at a time, and means at the opposite end of said beam adapted to receive an element discharging from said magazine, and the pivotal support of said beam being disposed so as to cause the element delivered to the beam from said runway, to overbalance the beam and cause it to operate.

5. In a mechanical toy, an inclined magazine adapted to retain rollable elements such as marbles, an inclined runway, a pivoted beam having a holder at each end, one holder being adapted to receive elements, one at a time, from the magazine, and the other holder being arranged to receive elements from said runway, and the pivotal support of said beam being arranged so as to cause an element discharged from said runway to engage and oscillate said beam, whereby another element will be delivered to said runway, said beam continuing to operate until all of the elements in the magazine have been delivered to said runway.

6. In a mechanical toy, a supporting structure comprising a suitable upright, an inclined magazine adapted to retain a plurality of marbles or spherical elements, an inclined runway secured to the upper end of said upright at an elevation above said magazine, a beam pivotally mounted upon said upright and having one end adapted to receive elements from said magazine, and having its opposite end adapted to receive elements discharging from said runway, and the pivotal support of said beam being so arranged with respect to the ends thereof, that when an element is delivered to said beam from one end of said runway, the beam will be oscillated and cause an element supported in the opposite end thereof to be delivered into the opposite end of said runway, and means for causing the beam to return to loadreceiving position.

7. In a mechanical toy, a supporting structure comprising an upright, a magazine secured to one end of the structure and adapted to retain a plurality of marbles, a runway supported at the upper and of said upright at an elevation above said magazine, a beam pivotally supported upon the upright below said runway, one end of said beam being adapted to receive elements from said magazine, and the opposite end thereof being adapted to receive elements from the runway, and the pivotal support of said beam being so arranged that when an element is delivered to said beam from said runway, the beam will be overbalanced, whereby an element delivered to the opposite end of the beam from the magazine will be elevated and discharged into the receiving end of said runway, after which the element supported in the opposite end of the beam will discharge therefrom and allow the beam to return to load-receiving position by gravity, and means adjacent to said magazine adapted to be actuated by said beam to cause an element supported in the magazine to be delivered to said beam.

8. In a mechanical toy, a supporting structure comprising an upright, a magazine adapted to retain a plurality of marbles, a runway supported at the upper end of said upright at an elevation above said magazine, a beam pivotally supported upon the upright, one end of said beam being adapted to receive elements from said magazine, and the opposite end thereof being adapted to receive elements from the runway, and the pivotal support of said beam being so arranged that when an element is delivered to said beam from said runway, the beam 'will be overbalanced, whereby the element delivered to the opposite end of the beam from the magazine, will be elevated and discharged into the receiving end of said runway, after which the element supported in the opposite end of the beam will discharge therefrom and allow the beam to return to load-receiving position by gravity, and a pivoted member mounted adjacent to said magazine adapted to'be actuated by said beam to cause an element sup-,

orted inthe magazine to be delivered to the cam.

9. In a mechanical toy, a supporting structure having an upright at one end thereof, an

inclined magazine at the opposite end of the structure adapted to retain a plurality of marbles, an inclined runway secured to the upper end of the upright, a beam pivoted to said upright and provided at its ends with suitable holders, each adapted to receive a marble, the pivotal support of said beam being located so as to cause the end portion thereof adjacent to the magazine to be normally held in load-receiving position by gravity, and the opposite end of said beam being so proportioned that when a marble is delivered into the holder thereof, the beam will be oscillated to elevate a marble from the magazine and deliver it into the receiving end of said runway, after which the marble supported in the holder at the opposite end of the beam will discharge therefrom and permit the beam to return by gravity to its normal position, and a pivoted member having a portion adapted to project through an opening in the discharge end of said magazine, said member being adapted to be actuated by said beam to cause a marble to be discharged from the magazine and delivered into the adjacent holder of the beam, the length of said runway being such that before a marble delivered thereto has traveled to the opposite end thereof, a marble will be delivered to said beam from said magazine, whereby the beam will continue to operate automatically until all of the marbles in said magazine have been elevated to the runway.

10. In a toy, a frame, an inclined magazine mounted thereon and adapted to contain a plurality of balls, means at the discharge end of said magazine for normally retaining the balls therein, an inclined runway on said frame at an elevation above the magazine, an overbalanced beam pivoted to the frame below said runway and having holders at the ends thereof adapted to receive balls from the magazine and runway, said beam normally being positioned to receive a ball from the magazine, an ejector pivotally mounted upon the frame adjacent to the discharge end of the magazine and adapted to be actuated by downward movement ofrsaid beam to discharge a ball from the magazine into the adsupport of said beam being so disposed that when a ball is discharged from the runway into the holder at the opposite end of the beam, the latter will be oscillated to elevate the ball received from the magazine and discharge it into said runway, whereupon said which the beam will again be oscillated to deliver a ball into the runway, said cycle of operation cont-inning until all of the balls in the magazine have been delivered to the run- I way and discharged therefrom.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 23rd day of March, 1932.

PETER PLATAKIS.

jacentholdertof said beam, and the pivotal ago 

